No liquor licence for Undie 500

Canterbury University students 'The Dirty Sanchez's', James Barrington (left), Brendon Breeze and Rob Capon, in the annual Undie 500. Photo / NZ Herald

Police have welcomed a decision to turn down a liquor licence for the infamous Undie 500, which organisers had hoped to hold at a property near Blenheim this year.

The original Christchurch-Dunedin car rally, organised by the University of Canterbury's Engineering Society, ended in drunken chaos and arrests in recent years, leading to a ban on this year's event by Otago University.

Organisers instead planned to base the weekend car rally and concert at a Seddon property, south of Blenheim in Marlborough.

However, Marlborough District Council has turned down the liquor licence application, which was opposed by police and Nelson Marlborough District Health Board, the Marlborough Express reported.

The Engineering Society was committed to holding an Undie 500 this year, society president Michael Cook said.

Holding a BYO event at Seddon would not be considered, and other options would now have to be looked at.

- NZPA